press

OMARA PORTUONDO
WCD068 + live 2004

“…her wonderful new album ‘Flor De Amor’” Independent

“A delight from start to finish” “the Cuban music of your dreams.” “has the feeling of real quality” “this is a triumph” Independent on Sunday (5 stars)

“…it’s something rather special,” “this is a soft centred album, but it gets tastier as you savour it.” “understated and infectious” Simon Broughton in Evening Standard

“…a revelation.” “With Flor De Amor, the World Circuit label has reaffirmed its position as the unrivalled brand leader in world music.” Nigel Williamson in The Times

“…one of the finest Cuban albums you’ll hear this year.” “gorgeous” Jon Lusk BBC Music (online)

“…exudes taste and quality” Songlines

“Boss of the bossa” “majestic” “charming” Guardian (4 stars)

“her voice carries such emotional weight that any language barriers seem almost irrelevant” Daily Mail (4 stars)

“very, very, very good” Time Out

“Omara Portuondo is a true Cuban icon” “her voice is note perfect and beltingly powerful” Daily Telegraph

“an audience can’t help but be wooed by the way that she breathes in life and exhales rich, soulful music.” Big Issue In The North

“Portuondo is still head and shoulders above the competition on this immaculately crafted second solo album.” Daily Telegraph

“The matriarch of the Buena Vista Social Club has kept us waiting for the follow up to her majestic debut for the producer Nick Gold, but patience is rewarded.” The Times

“one of the world’s truly great divas” Scotland On Sunday

“the musical food of the gods” “just the right combination of emotion and cool that makes this a classic of this year or any other” “it’s a real thing of beauty” Birmingham Post (5 stars)
“A pure, simple pleasure….brought to the core by Portuondo’s impressive vocal accomplishments.” The List

“The diva still blossoms” “a timely reminder that Norah Jones didn’t invent laid-back, jazzy songs from the heart.” Wanderlust

“delightful” “Portuondo and friends display wonderful touch and taste.” Irish Times

“wonderfully arranged and played” Q (3 stars: excellent)

“A mambo flavoured masterpiece…as perfect a Latin album as you could hope to find.” Uncut (5 stars)

“each track on Flor De Amor drips class” “a wholeheartedly wonderful collection of songs from one of the real stars of Cuban music” Word

“More soul from the queen of Cuban song.” “It’s a gorgeous mix – lush pacing, rich instrumentation, heartfelt vocals - steaming with the tropical languor you would expect from the ‘fiance of feeling’.” Conde Naste Traveller

“Portuondo’s smoky voice imbues every word with deep feeling, and she performs with magnificent ease and enviable self possession……..a charming album.” Billboard

“It’s Omara’s world, populated by flawless musicians and the intoxicating elegance of her voice.” New York Post

Live

“Magnificent” Robin Deneslow in Guardian (4 stars)

“delivers a mesmerising show in the final instalment of the La Línea festival” Clive Davis Sunday Times (4 stars)

 

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